OpinionApril 19, 2005
Speak Out 4/19/05
Police on the phone; Autism program; Above the law?; Keeping up; Reform health care; Post office moving; Staying on budget; Bad location; Not in the creek; Fixed incomes; Let's move forward; Noisy contraption; Others are worse; Our responsibility
Police on the phone
I'M CONCERNED about the safety of drivers in Cape Girardeau and especially our children because every time I see a police officer, he has a cell phone to his ear. They are constantly talking on the phone. Do you think we could look into how many minutes while on duty a specific officer is spending on the cell phone talking to their wife, girlfriend or boyfriend?
Autism program
AS A parent with a child with autism, I want to thank the Southeast Missouri Autism Project and the members of the parent advisory committee for hearing our voices and for allowing funds to begin an early intensive behavior intervention program that was so very needed in this part of Missouri. Thank you, without you we would be nowhere.
Above the law?
I'M TRAVELING out of Jackson on Bainbridge Road and right on County Road 620. There is a sheriff's deputy car in front of me. We went through three stop signs, two of which were rolling stops. He is driving 45 to 50 mph in a 30-mph zone. Why is the sheriff's department above the law?
Keeping up
WHILE IT is true that it seems like every two to three years the Jackson School District asks for money for more schools, it's because Jackson has continued to grow. I think after the new Jackson High School gets built, the district won't be asking for more, and we might see taxes being lowered. Jackson needs to keep up. There are all these nice homes around Jackson. The district should be worthy of all these nice homes.
Reform health care
HEALTH CARE is in trouble. As usual, the disabled, elderly and poor are the first to bear the burden. Most of us are a job away from having no health care. Most people are having to go without coverage every day. What good is the best care in the world if no one can afford it? Instead of reforming Social Security, we should be reforming health care.
Post office moving
WITH THE new federal courthouse building to be done in a year or two, the Marquette Tower and all the state offices, all the downtown businesses, the River Campus that's being built and the downtown area coming around, thank God the post office is going to move back to its Frederick Street location. Incidentally, it's right by Southeast Missouri State University. Thank God it's coming back to this side of town.
Staying on budget
I VOTE no on every Jackson School District bond issue even though the district needs better facilities. I vote no for every issue that involves a tax increase unless it is a user's tax. I will continue to do so until all levels of government show some effort in curbing their expenses and spending tax dollars reasonably. My creditors expect me to live within my means. I budget with actual funds, not what I'm betting on earning. And I do not make purchases I can't pay for.
Receive Daily Headlines FREESign up today!
Bad location
I JUST deposited mail at the distribution center in west Cape Girardeau. I'm not the smartest person in the world, but it doesn't take a smart person to realize that the post office is making one of the biggest mistakes it could ever make by putting the main post office back on Frederick Street. I don't understand why the city fathers and other politicians can't see this is a poor decision. It needs to be centrally located. Why can't our city fathers do something to try to get the U.S. Postal Service to put this where it needs to be?
Not in the creek
WHY DUMP flood debris back in the creek? With the next storm, this will only wash downstream and cause a problem for someone else or maybe jam under a bridge. And the removal will have to be paid for by the taxpayers twice. I'm sure there could be something else done with this debris.
Fixed incomes
WE'RE ALL on fixed incomes. My employer is not going to raise my salary $150 a year so that I can pay for a new school for Jackson. My vote is no. Stop buying and tearing down houses for student parking lots. There's a big yellow thing that stops in front of everybody's driveway. Put your kid on it. Stop buying your kids cars. Parents could put that money toward the school, and they would have a huge school.
Let's move forward
I KEEP reading that Jackson doesn't need a fancy high school. We are no longer a small rural school district. We have a student population bigger than Cape Girardeau's. We have doctors and lawyers and many other professionals and business owners who have chosen to make Jackson their home. We have big traffic problems, older homes being restored and new homes and subdivisions of all price ranges being built both in and out of our city limits. And no amount of no votes will change that. We need a high-school campus that will continue to attract citizens who can contribute to our community. We also want to create an atmosphere that our children will want to return to after college to live and raise their families. We do not want them to say Jackson was a great place to be from. If people want to continue to have a small rural school district, I'm sure Oak Ridge and Delta would be thrilled to have you. The rest of us want to move forward.
Noisy contraption
IS ANYONE else annoyed by the guy who rides around Capaha Park area on a makeshift moped with his knees in the air? Surely that's a peace disturbance. It rattles my windows every day. It can't be a legal driving machine either. It's no bigger than a kid's scooter but makes noise like a Harley. Please get him off the streets.
Others are worse
IF YOU think Jackson High School has the worst classroom conditions, think again. Take a long drive to the surrounding towns and take a good look.
Our responsibility
REGARDLESS OF the outcome of the last election, I and my fellow teachers in the Jackson School District will continue to provide your children with the high-quality education they have been receiving for the past many years. It is silly to think that we can raise $27 million in chili suppers and other fund raisers.We all agree that the renovations at the high school are necessary. It is a shame that we cannot agree who should be responsible for those renovations. If you feel you are not responsible, I am sorry that when you were in school your teachers failed to teach about civic responsibility. Remember, we live in the United States, not some Third World country.
Story Tags
Connect with the Southeast Missourian Newsroom:
For corrections to this story or other insights for the editor, click here. To submit a letter to the editor, click here. To learn about the Southeast Missourian’s AI Policy, click here.
Related
Advertisement
Receive Daily Headlines FREESign up today!
